The Top 5 Fish Finders for Kayaks in 2022
One of the things I love about winter is watching the steam rise from a body of water during a random warm up.
It’s such a pleasant function of the natural world, and always reminds me of dawn arrivals for a fishing trip during the warmer months.
We are in the second month of the year already, and less than a month away from new sporting license season in my state and many others.
Before you blink an eye, it will be time to regroup your gear, reline your reels, and get your kayak in working order so you can slay those pre-spawn hogs!
If you have followed some of my previous fishing articles, BEST WAYS TO CATCH SMALLMOUTH BASS IN CREEKS, then you know that I love to wade and I love to get up close and personal with my environment.
Kayaking is a great hybrid of boating and being immersed in that environment.
Many anglers cling to their bass boats this time of year, and cite the cold weather and the tech outfit the boat offers, so they don’t miss any of the pre-spawn fun.
But I am here to tell you that the future is now my friends, and you don’t have to hit the water in a kayak with less effective tech than your boat anymore.
Today we’re going to answer some common questions and address some common considerations when it comes to choosing The Best Fish Finders for Kayaks in 2022! Let’s get started!
Is a Fish Finder Worth It on a Kayak?
When discussing kayak upgrades, one of the most frequent questions is about the value of placing fish finding technology on the vessel. Let me be clear; if you want to narrow your search, mark spots, view structure and vegetation, and track presence and activity, then using a fish finder is a must.
The tech is too good and gives you too much of an edge to ignore, and these days the availability of more compact devices has changed the game in terms of use on a smaller vessel.
One of the follow up questions I usually field is whether or not the device will be invasive on such a small boat, but today’s fish finders are not the fish finders of even a decade ago.
If you are considering an upgrade to your kayak, getting a fish finder is an easier and more affordable perk than you may expect. You are doing yourself a disservice if you don’t outfit your ‘yak with fish finding technology.
How Does a Fish Finder Work On a Kayak?
In short, it works the same as it would on your bass boat or any larger vessel. You attach your transducer to the bottom of your kayak and if your transducer is wire connected, it will need to be run to the fish finding console you interface with.
A transducer is what produces your imagery, and works by sending a sonar signal through the water column, once the signal is returned or echoed it gives a picture of all bodies within the water that gave a response to the echo.
I sort of think of it as an X-ray of the water. The strength of the return signal has an effect on the clarity and totality of the imagery produced.
Placement of the screen console is the next thing to consider and will largely depend on your propulsion method.
If you paddle you will likely want to avoid placing the fish finder on the gunwale (sides), opting instead for the middle of the craft; whereas you’ll probably want the opposite if you have a pedal propelled kayak.
For a great list of paddle and pedal options check out THE 5 BEST FISHING KAYAKS IN 2022.
What Frequency Should I Use On My Fish Finder?
Different frequency levels are good for different water columns. So if you are ‘yaking in a deep lake or reservoir, you will likely want a lower frequency like a 50kHz-83kHz.
This is because lower frequency sonar has less sensitive target separation allowing it to generate a deeper penetration into the water column to give you a broader, while slightly less defined, picture of the activity deep below you.
Inversely, a higher frequency sonar is more appropriate if you are in a shallow lake, river, or creek. Registering as high as 800kHz to 1200kHz, this sonar produces much faster signals and has a really sensitive target separation on the echo.
This makes a high frequency sonar not penetrate as far into the water as a lower frequency, however the advantage of higher frequency sonar is it does produce much crisper and defined images due to the sensitive target separation, whereas low frequency, deeper images can be subject to what’s called a “blobbing” effect.
You have to assess your venues. If you fish a lot of deep water, I would say the low frequency is a must. For every other angler fishing a 100ft depth or less, I recommend taking your frequency to eleven.
So, now that we have answered a few questions and addressed some common considerations, let’s hit the water and check out THE TOP 5 FISH FINDERS FOR KAYAKS IN 2022!
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The bEST Fish fINDERS FOR kAYAK fISHING IN 2022
Garmin Striker 4 with Portable Kit
Garmin is arguably the best name in fish finding technology and it won’t be the last time a Garmin product makes this list.
This version of the GARMIN STRIKER 4 with the portable kit is my favorite version because of its ease of set up and use and it’s carry case, which offers easy protection if you’re a crazy person like myself and do not mind venturing out in inclement weather.
With a 3.5” display, this screen will have no problem staying out of your way, and the 77/200kHz chirp sonar provides versatility between depth and picture clarity.
In addition to your sonar, the GPS and spot marking technology is second to none and will provide you with more than enough tools to get the job done, and come back to get it done again.
This may be the “little engine that could” fish finder on the list.
FEATURES & SPECS:
Keyed interface with dedicated buttons- Easy to install and use- available in 3.5”, 5”, and 7” display (3.5” chosen for sleek and non-invasive application)
Spot Marking- Waypoint technology allows you to easily mark spots where you’ve had success or notice structure that may produce. Also mark you path to and from a spot or ramp
Chirp Sonar- Chirp sends a continuous sweep of frequencies providing a broader and clearer picture of the activity below
Built-in Flasher- view your data in the classic flasher format if you’re ice fishing or vertical jigging
Product weight: 8oz
AC charger for rechargeable battery
Foam float so you never lose it!
Product dimensions: 3.6 X 1.6 X 5.9 inches
Humminbird has established itself as a major player in the fish finding technology market and they have designed the HUMMINGBIRD PIRANHAMAX 4 specifically for usage on kayaks, and more specifically to produce down-imaging.
Down-imaging means the finder gives you a picture of what’s going on beneath your vessel. Utilizing this approach is great for trolling or scouting an area before casting it.
The dual beam sonar provided by the HUMMINBIRD PIRANHAMAX 4 is the major selling point for me. The dual beam is adjustable from narrow to wide which produces either a sharper detail (narrow) or more generous coverage area (wide). This allows excellent versatility for finding your target area and then picking that area over with a fine-toothed comb.
The tilt and swivel mount is great for stand-up kayaks because it adjusts to many different viewing angles and the 4.3” display allows you a slightly larger view of the imagery if you’re standing.
At 200/455kHz this sonar has a depth range of 320ft for 455kHz and 600ft for 200kHz. This makes the HUMMINBIRD PIRANHAMAX 4 the “depth master” of the list, and the perfect fish finder for kayaking in the sea or deep lakes.
FEATURES & SPECS:
Screen Size- 4.3 inches color LCD
Dual Beam Sonar- Great for switching between broad search areas and fine detailing an area of interest
Down Imaging- Get a view of what is happening beneath your vessel
Tilt and Swivel Mount- Quickly adjusts your viewing angle
Easy-to-Use Interface
Product Dimensions- 3.6 X 3.9 X 6.8 inches
Transducer built in
Standard mounting inside hull or transom
Product weight- 2lbs
Depth- 320ft at 455kHz and 600ft at 200kHz
If you prefer to sacrifice none of the display size of your bass boat then Lowrance has the fish finder for you in the HOOK REVEAL 5 SPLIT SHOT.
This fish finder is one of the most low maintenance, yet high performing on the market.
The split shot transducer offers wide-angle chirp for fish finding excellence while producing exquisite high resolution down-imaging of structure and anything that may be staging in it.
The next luxurious feature, and probably my favorite feature of the HOOK REVEAL 5 SPLIT SHOT is the auto-tuning sonar which allows for adjustment at the touch of a button as conditions change.
This takes a lot of work out of operating your sonar properly and actually makes tuning adjustments something you can do while your line is in the water. Auto-tuning sonar is a major perk since it increases the precision of your sonar, and allows an angler to put their best foot forward in each scenario.
The solarMax display is yet another perk this fish finder provides, as well we all know the strain of having to squint into the screen on a sunny day.
The final favorite feature of mine is the built-in maps available. Nearly 4,000 inland lakes across the U.S. are already built into this fish finder, which makes it a great kayak if you enjoy destination fishing.
If you are wondering whether your kayak can or should handle this beast of a fish finder, look no further than the Lowrance Kayak Scupper Mount. The Scupper mount ensures your Lowrance sonar performs effectively when transitioning from boat to kayak.
All in all the LOWRANCE HOOK REVEAL 5 SPLIT SHOT is the “crossover” of the list.
FEATURES & SPECS:
Fish Reveal- The split transducer allows the target separation from the Lowrance Chirp to combined with high-resolution down imaging to highlight fish on your screen
Inland Mapping- Almost 4,000 maps of lakes inside the U.S. making this fish finder great for destination angling
Split Shot Transducer- Integral for the fish reveal, it produces excellent fish finding chirps while the down imaging renders high-resolution to give you a great view of what’s happening in the waters beneath you
Auto-tuning Sonar- This features allows you to adjust the the frequency in real time, keeping the most ideal imagery on your display at all times
5’ display ensures you won’t miss anything the graph shows you
Product Dimension- 9.02 X 7.13 X 7.52 Inches
Product Weight- 3.11lbs
I told you that Garmin would be back to grace this list, and when it comes to top of the line fish finders for kayaking, the ECHOMAP UHD 63 CV is tough to beat.
The 6.2 inch display screen offers excellent visibility while being a little less invasive than the 7” models. Garmin has equipped this screen with a sunlight readable screen making it a breeze to read even on the brightest days.
The GT24 transducer is tough to beat and provides possibly the best imagery on this list, allowing for clear structure identification and excellent target separation.
The preloaded Navionics maps include 17,000 lakes with up to 1ft contours. The Navionics feature alone makes the GARMIN ECHOMAP the best travel fish finder on the list, but the quick-release bail mount system cements its status as the easiest and highest performing travel fish finder.
The NMEA 2000 and NMEA 0183 networks support autopilot, fusion-link audio system, and engine data, allowing you to stay on top of you and your vessel’s performance.
The range of frequency for the sonar is perhaps the biggest selling point, ranging from 50kHz all the way to 800kHz and several settings in between. This allows you perhaps the broadest range of depth on the list.
The GARMIN ECHOMAP offers all the luxury and innovation of the LOWRANCE HOOK REVEAL and then some, making it the “luxury-crossover” of the list.
FEATURES & SPECS:
Sunlight-readable 6” display
GT24 transducer offering high-definition scanning sonar and high-wide chirp traditional sonar
Preloaded LakeVu G3 inland maps- with integrated Navionics data: covers more than 17,000 lakes with up to 1ft contours
Quick release bail mount for easy traveling
NMEA 2000 and NMEA 0183 networks for autopilot, fusion-link audio and engine data allowing you to stay on top of everything
Product Dimensions- 11.57 X 9.17 X 8.46 Inches
Product Weight- 5.77lbs
Frequency settings- 50kHz, 77kHz, 83kHz, 200kHz, 260kHz, 455kHz, and 800kHz
The Humminbird Helix has been one of the most popular fish finders on the market since it was first produced by Humminbird in October of 2016. The latest models do not deviate from that standard.
The HELIX 5 offers many of the bells and whistles of the previous two fish finders, with its own indispensable feature. The CHIRP side-imaging technology filters out external noise, which offers the clearest picture you can obtain below the surface!
The autochart live feature allows you to map your fishing spots in real time, as well as GPS mapping of the surrounding area. The built-in base map offers freshwater data from LakeMaster and NOAA which includes underwater terrain, buoys, marinas, and hazards.
This is arguably better than standard built-in mapping applications, because once connectivity is added to the mix it is likely more up-to-date with real time changes.
The equity in performance between the side imaging and down imaging is a really nice feature as lesser finders tend to prioritize one or the other.
The dual beam technology is Humminbird’s equivalent to the Lowrance Hook Reveal’s split shot sonar. This is what makes such clear side and down imaging possible.
This is probably the “best-all-around” fish finder on the list due to its exceptional technical capability on a moderately sized (5 inch) display.
FEATURES & SPECS:
5-inch widescreen LED backlit screen
CHIRP side imaging filters out interference and offers clearest images on the market
CHIRP digital sonar is designed to reach the depth you need no matter the water
DUAL BEAM sonar allows for high definition detail and broad range of scanning
HUMMINBIRD basemap provides data on more than 10,000 U.S. lakes
Wireless communication tech with GPRS
Designed for transom mount
Product Dimensions- 1.13 X 7.55 X 4.28 Inches
Product Weight- 10.1lbs
“Fishing is not an escape from life, but often a deeper immersion into it”
— Harry Middleton
Remember that the weight of the fish finder may be a factor for you. As I am sure you’ve observed, the weight tends to increase as the display gets larger, the technological capability increases, or both.
If you are looking to add something lightweight, then you may want to stick to the GARMIN STRIKER 4 instead of say the GARMIN ECHOMAP or HUMMINBIRD HELIX.
Also remember that price matters, so if you sacrifice on price you may save a little money but you will not have the capability that comes with investing in one of the latter few entries on this list.
I personally prefer the GARMIN ECHOMAP because I love the extensive capability and I am a bit partial to the GARMIN name. You may be partial to HUMMINBIRD or LOWRANCE and that is fine, I included fish finders from these companies on this list because they produce a worthy product.
My advice is that no matter what fish finder you settle on, that you take care of it. They are all waterproof of course, and built to withstand some wear and tear; but you can greatly extend the life by cleaning them at least semi-regularly and storing them properly when not in use.
Remember, you can’t catch a state record if you’re fooling with your graphs and don’t have a line in the water.
Tight lines my friends! And, remain Rugged!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ryan Smith is an avid angler and outdoorsman based in central Kentucky.
Ryan spends between 60 and 110 days fishing each year.
He is a carpenter by trade.
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